Long-time readers and regular Disneyland visitors can be excused for jumping to the next item in this week's Update, but the time has come for our annual reminder about handling the holidays at Disneyland Resort. The next two weeks are traditionally the busiest time of the year at the Disneyland Resort, and we want you to be prepared as you face maximum-capacity crowds.

Most importantly, we strongly urge you to purchase your tickets before you ever approach the main entrance. There is absolutely no reason to wait until you reach the Resort to buy your tickets, and doing so saves you a lot of time and headache, and leaves you with more options than those who show up without. On the busiest days, Disneyland implements a series of crowd-control measures such as restricting the sales of certain types of tickets, or even stopping selling tickets—so by purchasing tickets in advance, you can avoid standing in a long line just to buy tickets, as well as avoid being shut out from purchasing tickets altogether.

Tickets (and even annual passports) are available at many local grocery store chains, and be sure to check with your credit union or company benefit program. You can also purchase tickets at the Disneyland website and print them at home before you leave, saving you a long wait in the ticket booth lines.

Disney hopes temporary ticket booths will make for shorter lines during the holiday crush. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

If you still manage to get to Disneyland without a ticket – the Resort has set up an extra bank of temporary ticket carts next to the Disneyland main entrance. These are full-service ticket desks, and can sell every type of ticket and passport. For the past two years Disneyland has also tested an "express gate" program, selling 1- and 2-day tickets directly at select turnstiles during the morning admission rush. A cast member says that the temporary ticket carts are working so well that Disney may not use the express gate program this year.

If your park tickets include Magic Morning admission (available to those who are staying at one of the three on-property resort hotels) – you can use that perk everyday December 24 through 31, as Disneyland extends the usual four-day-a-week Magic Morning schedule for the busiest week.

If you plan to do some shopping this week and you don't have an Annual Pass or Cast Member discount – you might want to purchase a snack before you make any major purchases. Many Disneyland Resort quick-serve restaurants are printing a merchandise discount coupon for 20 percent off at the bottom of their receipts. The coupons are only valid at participating stores, and usually only before noon, but check the expiration date—the coupon does not have to be used the same day you receive it.

If you're looking for a special Christmas meal at the Disneyland Resort – your best bet is to head to Disney California Adventure park. While all of the Disneyland table-service restaurants are open for the holidays, none have a special Christmas Eve menu, and only Carnation Cafe has a holiday offering for Christmas Day. For a full list of offerings, be sure to check the holiday dining guide. Reservations are strongly suggested for table service restaurants. Call (714) 781-3463.

Finally, you have just one more chance to purchase fresh candy canes at Disneyland this year. The handmade treats are scheduled to be offered on Wednesday, December 21. Tickets for all three batches of candy canes are distributed at the Main Street Candy Palace at park opening, and sales are limited to one per person. Dates are subject to change without notice.

Downtown Disney is again hosting the annual Anaheim TubaChristmas event, and this year the organizers hope to set another world record for the largest tuba and euphonium ensemble. The Anaheim performance, led by Disney Talent Casting & Booking Director Stan Freese, claimed the world record in 2007, and Disney has sent out a call for even more performers to join the 2011 concert this Wednesday, December 21.

Disney is looking for tuba and euphonium players to help set a record in Downtown Disney this week. Photo (c) Disney

If you're interested, here's what you need to know: Registration is Wednesday morning from 8:00 to 10:00, in the Downtown Disney District valet parking lot. Performers can park in the Downtown Disney parking lot for free; just show your registration pin when you exit the parking lot. While Disney's announcement did not mention a fee, TubaChristmas usually requires a $5 donation per performer.

You need to bring your own instrument, chair and music stand (if needed). Rehearsal takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the valet parking lot, with the concert to follow at 2:00 p.m. in Downtown Disney near the ESPN Zone. Since both the rehearsal and the concert take place outdoors, plan to dress appropriately. TubaChristmas encourages performers to wear bright colors, and decorate their instruments.

The public is invited to watch the free 2:00 concert performance. Disney says that Stan Freese, himself a tuba player, will perform a solo during the concert.

Club 33 members upset by planned changes

Last week, members of Disney's exclusive Club 33 learned about changes to their membership plan that takes effect with the 2012 contract—and based on the reaction of a few MousePlanet readers who have written about the change, it sounds like the news was not well-received.

Club 33 offers several levels of corporate and individual membership, and will add a new "Platinum" individual membership to the existing Gold and Silver levels. Just as the Silver membership was phased out several years ago, the Gold membership is now discontinued. Like the Silver members before them, existing Gold members can renew their membership at the same level or upgrade to the new Platinum membership, but no new Gold memberships will be sold.

Gold members who choose to upgrade can do so without paying a higher initiation fee, but all new individual Club 33 members will join at the Platinum level. Once a Gold member upgrades, they can not revert back to the Gold membership in future years. The 2012 annual dues for Gold members are said to be $3,600, with the Platinum membership pegged at $10,000.

The jump in membership fees is paired with changes to and reductions of some important member benefits. Club 33 membership acts as an annual pass, and members have previously been allowed to bring one other guest into the park with them, even if neither was dining at Club 33 that day. The +1 benefit ends in 2012 for all member levels, though there are conflicting reports as to whether the spouse of a member will still receive the admission benefit.

Platinum members will now be considered to have Premier annual passports, which also gives them admission to Walt Disney World. For Platinum members, the loss of the +1 benefit is made up for by a new benefit giving the member four additional Premier annual passports for family and friends, a value of nearly $3000.

Platinum members will also have access to Club 1901, a new lounge in the Carthay Circle Theater in Disney California Adventure, and can book up to five VIP guided tours per year.

Gold members are still limited to Disneyland Resort admission, lose the +1 benefit, do not receive the additional annual passes, and will not have access to Club 1901.

Where Club 33 members previously received free valet parking at the Grand Californian Hotel anytime they visited the resort, that benefit is now offered only when the member is dining at Club 33.

For some members, the biggest change is to the guest pass policy. When a Club 33 member makes a reservation to dine at the club, they can request complimentary one-day park hopper tickets for their guests. Both Gold and Platinum members are now limited to 50 guest passes per year; corporate members receive 100 passes. Once the allocated guest passes have been used, members can purchase additional tickets at a 20 percent discount. This directly impacts members who "buy out" the entire restaurant for private events, as they will now be required to purchase admission for any guests in excess of their annual limit. Some believe that the new guest pass policy may be an effort by club managers to increase capacity at the restaurant by discouraging some of the heaviest users from making quite so many reservations. Once members reach their guest pass limit, they will perhaps think twice before making another reservation if it also means buying admission for their guest.

Some may dismiss this issue as "rich people problems," but some members are definitely upset by the changes, especially considering the investment they have made to join the exclusive club. If passholders get annoyed with Disney, they can simply choose not to renew the next year—but for club members (who waited as long as 10 years to join and paid tens of thousands of dollars in initiation fees and annual dues), it's not so easy to just walk away. The official 2012 membership booklet is due to be mailed to members in the coming week, and we're waiting to see if the complaints of the members are enough to prompt club managers to reconsider the proposed changes.

Buena Vista Street continues to take shape inside the Disney California Adventure construction zone, and new structures now peek up over the construction walls. It seems that work began first on the west block of shops, and many of those buildings have more detailed framing and even some exterior coverings. We're now seeing major steel work on the east block shops, and some lighting around the central fountain.

A new structure is visible inside the entrance to Disney California Adventure. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The west block stores have more detailed framing and exterior coverings. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The east block stores are being expanded towards the circle. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The trees around Cars Land parted once again, granting a glimpse down Route 66. This area becomes more detailed every week, as new signs and set dressing are installed. Now that neon lights have been installed on the sign for Ramone's House of Body Art, I can't wait too see Cars Land after dark.

Here It Is! The classic sign from Cars has arrived in Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

The view down Route 66 in Cars Land. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

More ride vehicles are installed at Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. Photo by Ethan Smith.

The youth activities on the Disney Cruise Line are arguably the best offered anywhere, with separate areas tailored to specific age groups from 3 to 17 years old. In the past, DCL has generally been willing to accommodate passengers who ask that their child be allowed to participate in out-of-age-group activities, most commonly when a mature 10-year-old wants to join an older sibling in the pre-teen Edge club, or parents ask that an 18-year-old who is still in high school be allowed to hang out in the Vibe club designed for ages 14 to 17.

In an internal memo sent to DCL cast members, the cruise line has instructed that age divisions be strictly enforced, and specifically instructed that 18-year-olds not be allowed to participate in youth activities. This poses a challenge for high school seniors who may have already turned 18, but may not be ready to participate in the less-structured 18*21 Club activities with college-aged passengers . Where Vibe is an actual lounge, staffed by youth counselors and offering a variety of activities and diversions from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily, the 18*21 Club is usually just a line item on the daily schedule, with only one or two organized meets a day.

Passengers who have called to ask about this very recent change are told little more than "there is now a need to maintain consistency across the fleet." One parent who has a child while will turn 18 during their upcoming cruise was received conflicting information from Disney Cruise Line representatives about what will happen on her son's birthday, and is still unsure if he will be allowed to remain in the Vibe club with his younger brother, or will spend the last three days of their cruise in the areas allowed to adults.

The cruise line has also implemented a new policy restricting parents from being in the youth clubs to do more than drop off and pick up their children, and requires adults to wear a lanyard or sticker whenever they are in the secured area. This change means parents can no longer participate in the youth activities with their children. While not a very common occurrence, some parents would stay with their children for a while to ease their fears about being left alone in a new environment.

To accommodate parents who can no longer participate in youth activities with their children, especially the popular "Flubber" or "Anyone Can Cook" sessions, a series of Open Houses will be offered in the Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab during the cruise. Any passenger can attend these open house sessions, which are considered "non-secured" programming, and can come and go freely. Whenever an open house is offered in one venue, either the Oceaneer's Club or the Oceaneer's Lab, secured programming will be offered in the other venue to ensure young passengers always have a secured venue.

...While not yet officially announced by Disney, we've heard that the two teams competing in the 2012 Rose Bowl Game will visit Disneyland Park on Tuesday, December 27 to participate in the annual "Media Day." Coaches and key players from each team will be on hand for a very brief ceremony in front of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle, expected to start around 2 p.m. Immediately after the ceremony, keep an eye out for some of the players posing for media photos around the Resort—the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Mad Tea Party are two likely spots to catch a glimpse of the players. We have not yet heard which day the bands from the Rose Bowl teams will make their annual visit to Disneyland.

Monorail Red returns to Disneyland as storm clouds loom over the Resort. Photo by Ethan Smith.

...Attention shoppers: You can sleep in next Tuesday because the Disneyland Resort is not planning an after-Christmas sale. In past years resort gift shops have offered 50 percent off ornaments and holiday decorations as early as Christmas Eve, but a Disneyland store manager tells MousePlanet that there will not be a sale this year. The resort also skipped the usual pre-Christmas sale event for Annual Passholders this year, so it seems sales are strong enough that the extra discounts aren't needed, or the resort's merchandise buyers brought in less holiday merchandise this year. The extra 10 percent discount offered to all levels of passholders, plus the 20 percent merchandise coupon found on the bottom of receipts from quick service restaurants is also likely helping the merchandise fly off the shelves without the need for steeper discounts.

The Monorail water slide has reopened at the Disneyland Hotel. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.

...The Monorail water slides at the Disneyland Hotel have reopened after an unscheduled refurbishment. The hotel's fitness center and guest laundry have also finally reopened after being closed or relocated for more than a year due to the hotel construction project.

...A reader pointed out that Disneyland has created a dedicated entrance line for visitors who use electric convenience vehicles (ECVs). Rather than using the standard entrance gates, visitors with ECVs are directed to use a "flood gate" near the stroller rental desk, on the east side of the Disneyland main entrance. The larger flood gates are easier for ECV users—many who are just learning to drive the oversize scooters—to navigate, which reduces the risk that the driver will strike the gate, a cast member or another visitor.

...Mickey's Soundsational Parade and the Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks show are both scheduled on the Disneyland entertainment calendar starting Friday, January 13, following the holiday hiatus. Fantasmic! is on hiatus starting January 23 due to the Sailing Ship Columbia refurbishment. The Columbia is scheduled to return to service February 18, but Fantasmic! may not return until later in the spring.

...The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, go to the MousePlanet main page and enter your email address in the top right box labeled "Join the MousePlanet Newsletter." Click Join, then fill out the fields in the registration page, including your first and last name. The Newsletter is free, but you must complete this registration to receive it, even if you may have signed up for one with us in the past.

...Visitors planning trips to the Disneyland Resort should make a point to check the Current Refurbishment/Attraction Closures section each week for the most recent updates. The Disneyland Resort Web site currently only publishes refurbishment information about six weeks in advance. Be sure to check the most recent Park Update for the latest changes, as MousePlanet does not edit past Park Updates to reflect changes.

Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland, to help you better plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can "Do more. Wait less."

This week should be quite crowded, especially nearing the weekend when Christmas crowds make Disneyland especially busy. TouringPlans.com can help you navigate the crowds with our per-park Crowd Calendar, Lines - Mobile Wait Times App that gives access to current and estimated wait times for attractions, and Touring Plans detailing the best plan of attack for hitting the attractions. With holiday crowds looming, it's a good time to subscribe to TouringPlans.com to plan your strategy to avoid the crowds!

Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Crowd Calendar.

Date

Overall

Monday, December 19, 2011

7 / 10

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

7 / 10

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

10 / 10

Thursday, December 22, 2011

10 / 10

Here are some quick-hit notes that we hope you'll find helpful as you prepare your visits for the week:

Full blockouts starting Thursday.

Disney California Adventure's low day will be Wednesday, when it's a 5.2.

Check here to see if a large convention, competition or park event might fall during your next trip to the Disneyland Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

Winter

Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort – through January 8, 2012.

ElecTRONica – Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights now through Spring 2012; the event is offered nightly December 16-31.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend – January 27–29. Registration for the half marathon is now sold out; registration for the family races is still open at the Run Disney website.

MouseAdventure Spring 2012 – We will host two MouseAdventure events next spring, a competitive event on Sunday, March 11 and a non-competitive "Day at the Park" event on Sunday, March 25. Additional details, including registration dates, price, format, and divisions will be sent out in January.

Grad Nite events – this party for high school seniors graduating in 2012 will be held May 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and June 1, 7, 8, 14. The 2012 event includes admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during regular operating hours, and a private party in Disneyland after the park closes to the public for the night.

Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animation – August 11-12. This D23 event returns to the Disneyland Resort in 2012. Additional details and registration information at www.Disney.com/D23.

We also recommend checking the convention calendar at the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website. When looking at that site, remember to note both the number of people and the number of rooms resulting from each convention. A gathering of 25,000 people booking few room nights (indicating most will be driving in to the area for their meeting) can impact traffic around the Resort much more than a crowd of 25,000 staying in area hotels. Of course, that second group is going to make finding a hotel room more difficult (and possibly more expensive), so it's best to book your own room as early as possible if you see that a big convention is in town during your trip.

Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland Resort. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!

This first section is a list of discounts on ticket-only purchases. Though it has become more common in recent years, Disneyland tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Southern California or Northern Mexico. For residents outside that area, the best discounts available tend to be simple advance purchase discounts.

If you know of any additional discounts, offers, promotions, or contests that should be listed in this section, drop us a line. Note, we are no longer listing offers from the Anaheim-Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, as their convenience fee negates any savings.

One Day, One Park Ticket – Regularly $80/$74

One Day Park Hopper – Regularly $105/$99

No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them.

Two Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $158/$146

Two Day Park Hopper – Regularly $173/$161

No discounts currently available to the general public. Check with your employer, school or credit union to see if any discounts are available through them.

Three Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $209/$193

Three Day Park Hopper – Regularly $224/$208

Advance Purchase 3-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($199/$183) or 3-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($214/$198) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day "fuse," which means you must use all three admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday).

If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.)

Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value).

Disney Military Promotional 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket($95) – A discounted price offered to active or retired U.S. military personnel or their spouses. Based on past offers, Disney defines "Eligible Service Members" as active or retired members of the US military, including active members of the National Guard or Reservists and active or retired members of the US Coast Guard. This discount is available at MWR/ITT offices at your military base, or at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. Valid military ID is required. The price is the same for adults and children, and total of six tickets may be purchased per military member, regardless of who purchases the tickets (the member or their spouse). Tickets must be purchased by Sept 30, 2012. The ticket has the following blockout dates: December 24, 2011 to January 2, 2012; February 17 to 19, 2012; April 2 to 14, 2012; July 4, 2012.

As far as we can tell, there is no "fuse" on this ticket, so you may have more than the standard 13 days from first use to use the remaining two admissions, but we highly recommend you contact your base MWR/ITT office for more details before making travel plans. Please note that this ticket is not a "bonus" ticket, and so does not include an early admission day.

Four Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $234/$216

Four Day Park Hopper – Regularly $249/$231

Costco 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket plus $50 Disney gift card ($239.99) – A special offer for Costco members who are also residents of Southern California. Note: this ticket is no longer listed on the Costco website, but you may find it at Southern California Costco stores.

Unlike most other park hopper tickets, this ticket has no "fuse" - you can use the first admission today, and have until October 19, 2011 to use the remaining admission days before the ticket expires. The ticket is blocked out August 21-22, 2011.

The ticket states that visitors "Must reside within ZIP codes 90000-93599" and that "Proof of residency required upon redemption." The ticket you purchase at Costco is a valid admission ticket, and you can take it directly to a main entrance gate to use it. We've been told that, to prevent the unauthorized "transfer" of tickets between visitors (i.e., you use the first two days of the ticket and give it to a friend to use the second two days), visitors will be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used for admission, and to show ID with that same name upon subsequent admissions. Obviously minor children will be exempt from the ID requirement, but will also be required to write their name on the ticket when it is first used. Adults should plan to have ID with them to use the ticket.

Advance Purchase 4-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($219/$201) or 4-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($234/$216) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day "fuse," which means you must use all four admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday).

If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.)

Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value).

Five Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $251/$231

Five Day Park Hopper – Regularly $266/$246

Advance Purchase 5-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($231/$211) or 5-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($246/$226) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day "fuse," which means you must use all five admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday).

If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ($5 to $25 delivery fee, depending on service.)

Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value).

Six Day, One Park per Day Ticket – Regularly $256/$239

Six Day Park Hopper – Regularly $271/$251

Advance Purchase 6-day, One Park Per Day Bonus Ticket ($236/$216) or 6-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket ($251/$231) – A discounted price for advance purchase through the Internet or select dealers. First use must be on or before December 31, 2012. These tickets have a 13-day "fuse," which means you must use all six admissions within 13 days of the first use, or forfeit the unused days. "Bonus Tickets" include one early admission day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday).

If purchased from the Disneyland website, this ticket can be purchased and printed at home the same day you plan to use it (eTicket service). You can also ask to pick up the ticket at Will Call ($5 fee) or have it mailed to your home ( $5-$25 delivery fee, depending on service.)

Ticket may also be available from AAA offices in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (not currently listed at the AAA Web site, you may need to call your local office). Disney Stores (California), Safeway supermarkets (California and Arizona), and participating travel agents. It is best to call and confirm before visiting a location, however. If purchased from AAA, the tickets come with free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking garage (a $15/day value).

Disneyland Resort Annual Passports

No discounts currently available for new purchases. Southern California residents can take advantage of the monthly-payment plan when purchasing any but the Premier Annual Passport.

2011 Southern California CityPass ($276/$229) – This pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket (including one early-entry day), a one-day admission to either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park, as well as one-day admission to Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. The CityPass expires 14 days after first use at any location, and is valid through December 31, 2011. Purchase CityPass through the Disneyland website or on-site at the ticket booths of Disneyland Resort or the other theme parks included in the pass. You can also purchase directly from the CityPass website though this has a minimum $7.50 shipping charge.

Hotel/Travel Packages

Costco Travel Packages – Many different travel packages including visits to Disneyland and Disneyland hotels are available through Costco. When purchasing a Costco Disneyland travel package, extras that will be included are: Mickey's Toontown Madness admission (currently available Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays), a character breakfast collectible pin and lanyard, and a Costco luggage tag per person, plus a $20 Disneyland Resort gift card per package.

Disney's Resort Magic and Good Neighbor Magic Packages – Package includes accommodations one of the three resort hotels or at one of 40 Good Neighbor hotels; Souvenir Park Hopper ticket with voucher for admission to Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness, plus one Magic Morning (early entry) for three-day or longer Park Hoppers; preferred seating at four DCA attractions (Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, It's Tough to be a Bug!, Golden Dreams); Preferred Showing of Turtle Talk with Crush (Priority Viewing at the first Turtle Talk with Crush show of the day, on any one day - one voucher per Guest); Disney Dream coin keepsake (one per package), luggage tag and lanyard with pin; a Downtown Disney Fun Card; and a "Character Call" from Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Crush. Contact Disney Travel or your favorite travel agent.

Contact a MousePlanet sponsor travel agency for assistance in booking your next trip

Character Dining Vouchers – Discounted character dining vouchers are available for purchase online, in advance of your trip, through Get Away Travel.

Disney Visa – Cardholders have access to a private Character Meet 'N' Greet photo opportunity at Disney California Adventure, and receive one free 5x7 photograph per visit. Cardholders also receive 10% off qualifying merchandise purchases of $50 or more from Disney-operated retail stores, 10% off at selected Disneyland Resort restaurants, (Big Thunder Ranch, River Belle Terrace, French Market, Cocina Cucamonga, Steakhouse 55, PCH Grill and Storyteller's Café), and 20% off the "Welcome to Disneyland," "A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps," and "Discover the Magic" guided tours. See the Disney Visa website for terms and conditions.

Rainforest Cafe Safari Club–Members of the Rainforest Cafe get priority seating when available (which makes a huge difference on busy days), and a 10% discount on entrees for up to four people. Additionally, after signing up, your membership card will be mailed to you and be accompanied by a $10 award good for your next visit to a Rainforest Cafe. So if you know you will be eating there while at Disneyland and have a Rainforest Cafe local to you, it may make sense to prejoin the Safari Club so that you can use the award during your trip. See the Rainforest Cafe website for details.

ESPNZone MVP Club – Membership in the MVP Club does not offer any discounts on food. However, once a member you can make an online reservation for your party up to three days in advance and will get a 25% increase in points purchased when playing games in the Sports Arena (and 40 bonus points at activation). You must register online and your membership card will then be mailed to you within two weeks. The card must then be activated at any ESPNZone by the person who signed up for the card and ID will be required (link).

Visit our Annual Passholders Blockout Dates page to see more dates. You can see future calendar schedules at Disneyland. As always, specifics are subject to change without notice (or occasionally, without us noticing) so when information conflicts between what is presented here and that presented by Disney, it is best to assume Disney's information is correct.

Comments

By jpg391 on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:39:38 -0800

Another great article. Cars Land is sure taking shape.

By Dragonlady53 on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:45:20 -0800

My son is in the U of O Marching Band. Their itinerary says December 30, march down Main Street and play at the train station at 1:25 pm. Then they have the rest of the day and night at the park. 250+ kids in the band. Not sure if they get park hopper passes or not. Proud mom here...wish I could be there to see it, but if any Mouse Planet folks happen to catch them and post photos or videos...eternally grateful. GO DUCKS !

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MousePlanet is your independent consumer guide to Disney travel and vacations, covering Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line. Look to MousePlanet for daily news, weekly theme park updates, and detailed travel and resort guides for your favorite Disney destinations. As with any endeavor of this size and complexity, we couldn't hope to succeed without the assistance of our readers. We encourage you to submit news, updates and feedback from your Disney travels.

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